Tue, 14 Jul 2015 12:13:56 -0700WeeblyThu, 04 Sep 2014 16:00:14 GMThttp://nanaearth.weebly.com/real-food/biodynamic-gardening After we bought our farm five years ago I became interested in bio-dynamic gardening. It actually was a side bar of Waldorf-an innovative child rearing philosophy.Since I was "going organic" I explored (and still do) all options. Bio-dynamic gardening includes what my grandpa would say planting by the moon. Actually, there is much more involved than the moon, but that's the simple version.And, in addition to planetary influences, there is a specific fertilization method unique to bio-dynamics. So, being the fair minded person that I am, I thought I'd give it a try.Not being of unlimited funds, I felt I didn't have the money to splurge on new untried fertilizing techniques. But, since I was quasi-knowledgeable about planting by the moon, I decided to give it go. That first planting calendar guide was a gift, so I had no initial cash outlay. Fit right into my budget.In addition to my "field" gardens I have several raised beds. LOVE THOSE RAISED BEDS. So, I decided to try out this new-fangled idea o(with underpinnings of the way our ancestors dn my spinach.I planted every other row by the bio-dynamic calendar plant days and skeptically waited. And, waited. Waiting for a seed to sprout is paramount to watching and waiting for a pot to boil.After a few weeks, the spinach was up and ready to be picked. Here's a photo of the results.

Spinach planted NON bio-dynamically. 4 inches

Spinach planted on a bio-dynamic day. 10 inches

The spinach in the center is the NON bio-dynamic. The flanking rows are bio-dynamic. These rows were planted a few days apart. Everything else was the same: soil, seed, conditions.

Clearly, the bio-dynamic plantings are more robust, larger, fuller, healthier. Now this is REAL FOOD.This was enough to convince me that is is worth the time and effort to plant by the moon! (bio-dynamically) So, I have purchased the planting calendar every year and pains-takingly plot out when to plant what.It takes a LOT more time and planning, but as you can see by the photos, it's well worth the effort.Here is a link to a conference that sounds just YUMMY interesting.

]]>Thu, 04 Sep 2014 03:29:44 GMThttp://nanaearth.weebly.com/real-food/tomato-love I knew this day would come. Last February when the cold wind was blowing snow and I sat all cozy warm drinking hot herbal infusions watching my hens march down a path made by Bob the Tractor driven by my Warrior FarmBoy husband.

I know!! Aren't they adorable? Chickens are hardier than you may think. They weren't out long before I put them back in their warm hen house. They are used to free-ranging so they needed some fresh air.

I knew I would be glad I got myself up, pulled on insulated coveralls and boots, pulled a hat down over my ears, wrapped a scarf around my head covering my face, yanked on my gloves and trudged through the snow to Sprout, my tiny seed starting greenhouse.

Here's Bob the Tractor and Warrior FarmBoy husband moving Sprout from my neighbors house to ours. Sprout got a total rebuild from the waist down.

I hooked up my heat source, took off my gloves, rubbed my hands together while blowing warm breath on them and commenced to prepare my flats to receive their precious golden seeds. TOMATOES!! Peppers! I was thinking and shivering, boy, these are going to be so beautiful this summer. When I'm right, I'm right.

Isn't this just one of the most beautiful photos in the world? I LOVE my fresh produce.

I have processed HUNDREDS of pounds of tomatoes this summer..,...whew what a job. Today I was making salsa and during a lull between batches when I just HAD TO TAKE A BREAK I checked my email.One of the blogs I follow (Erika at Northwest Edible Life==she's awesome) had this SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS idea for processing BIG BATCHES of tomatoes. It's assembly-line efficient, common sense logical and border-line genius. (And, some of the comments have great ideas, too._You know I want you to eat REAL FOOD so any tip to make it easier for you to do that is copacetic. So click on those tiny words below and be transported to TOMATO BLISS.

]]>Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:46:03 GMThttp://nanaearth.weebly.com/real-food/summer-screams-salad If your body isn't craving the greens, blues, reds and yellows of garden-fresh organic veggies then it is probably skewed and confused with too much sugar and additives.Think you don't like salads? Try this simple but nutritious and yummy lunch. After piling a hand full of greens, a sprinkling of peppers, tomatoes, carrots, onion, even garlic (how wild are you?!) on your plate try a different approach. Forego bottled (pre-prepared, processed) dressing. Keep a small bottle of olive oil handy; dribble on greens. Next, splash on some type of vinegar (there are MANY to choose from), add a little sea salt/fresh ground pepper and you are good to go. Change it up with fresh lemon or lime juice, fresh cubed pineapple, nutritious parsley (not just for garnish!), berries, well, the list is endless.Need more protein? Add hard-boiled free-range fertilized eggs. Beans. Or sliced chicken, turkey or beef. Need more carbs? Throw in some home made croutons. And, how about some fresh sprouts?Your palette will love the fresh, tart, exhilarating taste . Your body will adore real food.